PO's sports editor Ed Gotwals honored with Botdorf Service Award

Ed Gotwals has made a career out of one his biggest passions - soccer.

On Saturday, Gotwals was recognized for his commitment to the sport when he was presented with the Gerald Botdorf Service Award.

Only the seventh time it has ever been presented, the Botdorf Service Award is given to an individual who, "through efforts, deeds, writings, activities and programs, creates a very positive spirit or image of, or for, the game of soccer."

After playing soccer at Chambersburg High School and Gettysburg College, Gotwals began his officiating career.

Gotwals became a PIAA soccer official in 1976 and recently received a PIAA award for his years of service. He has worked three PIAA championship games as well as numerous state and district playoff games. He has served as a chapter president and assignor and holds an annual clinic for recruitment of new officials.

Gotwals, along with Dick George and Tom Byrnes, helped set up the Central Pa. Scholastic Soccer All-Star game, which was first played in 1980. Gotwals still remains active in the planning of the annual game.

In addition to his work with PIAA officiating, he was also a National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association official for 22 years and served as a chapter president and assignor there as well.

Gotwals also helped found the Chambersburg Soccer Club in 1976, which has since become the Chambersburg Youth Soccer Association (CYSA). He served as CYSA president for nine years and helped initiate the Chambersburg Summer Soccer League.

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He was also involved in the development of the Nellie & T.K. Nitterhouse Memorial Park soccer complex in Chambersburg.

"We want to choose somebody who is doing something to promote high school soccer," said Randy Rich, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association (PSCA) Hall of Fame. "Ed, on various levels, is doing that and has been doing that for years. I certainly believe he's deserving of the award."

In addition to his work for the sport in the community, Gotwals has also been working in the Public Opinion sports department since 1976. He has been the paper's soccer beat writer for all 37 years and produces the boys and girls soccer all-star teams each season. Gotwals became the sports editor in 2000 and has covered all the soccer teams in Franklin and Fulton counties.

Rich along with Glen Hibshman are the co-chairmen of the awards committee and settled on Gotwals to receive the award in December.

"There's a lot of satisfaction there," Gotwals said. "I've been involved in soccer in a lot of different ways for years, and you don't do that to get awards; I've just had a blast. I just love the sport, and to be awarded something like this is definitely gratifying."

The service award was created in honor of Gerald Botdorf, who was the head coach at West Snyder High School. He was also the executive director of the PSCA for 33 years.

"He was really the heart and the soul of the program, and he really kept it going," Rich said. "Everybody looks to Gerald for guidance. He was a task master, very efficient and very reliable, so we created this award for him."

Botdorf was present at the honorees banquet held Saturday in Mechanicsburg. In addition to the presentation of the Botdorf Service Award to Gotwals, the banquet also featured presentations of the coaches of the year awards, the boys and girls all-state teams, the Pennsylvania player of the year award and the Hall of Fame inductees.

Gotwals had a chance to give a short speech at the banquet, during which he said he intended to give gratitude to those who have helped shape his life in soccer.

"I've met a lot of great people in soccer," Gotwals said. "You can look at any one of those different things that I've done, and I can name a handful of people that I really respect and enjoy and have become long-term friends with."

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Lizi Arbogast can be reached at 262-4788 or larbogast@publicopinionnews.com.

Gotwals' soccer resume

Playing career: Three-year player, two-year starter at Chambersburg High School ... South Penn League and Public Opinion All-Star ... Four-year starting defender at Gettysburg College ... Eight-year player in the Mason-Dixon Soccer League.

Officiating career: Officiated for more than 36 years and received a service award from PIAA in August ... Worked in 3 PIAA championship games ... Worked as NISOA official for 22 years ... Served as chapter president and assignor ... Holds annual clinic/test for recruitment of new officials.

Founding career: Helped found the Chambersburg Soccer Club, which is now the Chambersburg Youth Soccer Association ... Served as CYSA president for 9 years ... Helped initiate the Chambersburg Summer Soccer League ... Helped set up the Central Pa. Scholastic Soccer All-Star Game.

Reporting and editing career: Worked in the sports department at Public Opinion since 1976 ... Became sports editor in 2000 ... Served as the paper's soccer beat writer for 37 years ... Produces boys and girls all-star teams each season.